He had this feeling since arriving at the aid station the day before. It really began to bother him. It felt like a gnawing sense of impending doom that just lingered around him.
"OK, let's get him out of here. Next!" Hawkeye called to the orderlies. "How are you doing, Major?"
"Good, as long as it keeps going like this," Margaret said. "I just don't want the North Koreans to come walking in."
"They won't as long as I am here. They will have to kill me first before they touch you," Hawkeye confided in her. They literally would have to kill him first, because he wouldn't be able to live with her being hurt in any way.
Just then, they heard the sounds of feet walking outside the aid station. Hawkeye was quick to realize that what he dreaded had arrived. A sudden and possibly deadly confrontation with the North Korean soldiers.
"Everyone, stay quiet! They may not hear us," Hawkeye immediately took charge. This was the moment he was dreading. Margaret inched her way closer to him. Somehow, she felt safer that way. With their arms touching, she could pretend that all was good.
Three North Korean soldiers entered the building and started randomly shooting at everyone in there. It was a terrifying moment for everyone, especially Hawkeye. For him, this was the kind of thing he had only heard of happening from the guys at the front in the middle of the action. This wasn't something that you actually participated in.
Hawkeye dove under the table that they had been working at and Margaret just stood there not doing anything to protect herself.
"Margaret, get down!" he yelled at her and reached up to pull her down to the floor. At this point, she was the only one who was still standing. He then heard someone scream. He immediately froze. He knew. He didn't have to look to know what had just happened. He turned as Margaret collapsed to the floor and landed right next to him.
"Oh, God, no!" he screamed as he knelt down beside her.